Dear Carroll College Chemistry Alumni and Supporters:
We hope you and your family are healthy and enjoying autumn. We are in the middle of the fall semester, and we wanted to update you on what has been happening in our department since our fall 2020 newsletter.
Student Highlight – Summer Research at the Flathead Lake Biological Station
Every fall semester the chemistry department hosts a research and prestigious awards informational session. At the informational session students learn about both on-campus and off-campus research opportunities and prestigious awards. Experiences like these are what allow our alumni to differentiate themselves as they enter the competitive employment environment or apply for pre-professional schools. The chemistry faculty encourage students to apply for these opportunities and we actively support our students as they craft their application materials.
This year general chemistry student Elizabeth Ortiz-Espinoza spent the summer between her freshman and sophomore year working as a paid research intern at the Flathead Lake Biological Station (FLBS). Elizabeth assisted with the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Rules of Life research project under the guidance of FLBS Director Jim Elser and Associate Researcher Jana Isanta-Navarro and Benedicta Bars. The Rules of Life project is “…investigating if there are fundamental rules that link the biochemical properties of cells to dynamical processes in ecosystems.”
"The internship was amazing! I got to take the lead on my own experiment where I grew Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a green alga, in chemostats under several controlled conditions. I then analyzed samples for different biomarkers such as RNA/DNA, ATP, lipids, proteins, etc. Additionally, I got to help my partner with the experiment she was leading, as well as other interns and the scientists they were working with. I learned something new every day that I was in the lab and got to do things like sampling in the middle of the night on a boat on Flathead Lake and stargaze during breaks.<
"Since the interns live in cabins in a lodge that is a ten second walk from the lake, we swam, kayaked, paddle boarded, and went canoeing every day after work. We also camped, hiked, and explored nature on the weekends. Glacier National Park, being only an hour away from the BioStation, was one of our favorite places to visit during sunrise.
"Working with Dr. Jana Isanta-Navarro, Dr. Jim Elser, and Dita Bras was a life-changing experience that I will always be grateful for. Their attentiveness and willingness to help my research partner and I succeed made this experience so fun and safe. The skills I developed and exercised working with this team are some that I will take with me no matter what field I go into.
"I really cannot thank the chemistry faculty enough for encouraging me to apply." ~ Elizabeth Ortiz-Espinoza, Class of 2024
More stories about the experiences our students have had can be found on the Chemistry News page.
Student Highlights - Summer Research in the Chemistry Department
The Carroll College chemistry faculty routinely mentor students on summer research projects. Summer research is an excellent paid learning experience for the student. This summer three faculty mentored six students in research programs that spanned from four to ten weeks.
Professor Kessler mentored rising seniors Matt Keck and Ryan Olson on their research project synthesizing and characterizing transition metal coordination compounds with multi-dentate ligands that act as catalysts in organic transformations. This research project was funded by the Bugni Endowed Professorship at Carroll College and the Montana Space Grant Consortium (MSCG) student research apprenticeship program.
"For this summer's research, I enjoyed working with the glovebox and learning new techniques for performing air free reactions, and I learned how to work more efficiently with others in a lab environment." ~ Matt Keck, Chemistry, Class of 2022
Professor Hitt mentored rising junior Eden Houske on a research project focused on the development of small molecule antibiotic candidates based on structural motifs known to exhibit antibacterial activity, which was a continuation of her Organic Chemistry Lab course project from the spring 2021 semester.
This research project was funded by the Paul Scholarship at Carroll College.
"This past summer I was fortunate to continue my research in organic chemistry which allowed me to further develop independent laboratory skills in liquid-liquid extractions, thin layer and silica column chromatographies, and obtaining and analyzing IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectra. This project involved the synthesis of two fluorine substituted oxadiazole meta and para isomers that could potentially have antibiotic qualities which may prove to be useful in the treatment of MRSA infections." ~ Eden Houske, Biology, Class of 2023
Professor Rowley mentored rising sophomore Elliot Wald, and rising seniors Maggie Bailey and Tim Radosevich on their research project titled: All-metal-oxide p-n photovoltaic junctions fabricated using materials abundant in the Martian regolith. This $86,000 research project was funded by NASA’s EPSCoR Rapid Response Research program.
"I enjoyed working on this project with Dr. Rowley and our team because it was a transition into a research laboratory position where we were creating knowledge. I learned many of the mechanics behind how solar cells function and the goals of synthesizing a functioning solar cell using materials found in the martian regolith (or dirt!)." ~ Maggie Bailey, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Class of 2023
"As a fellow researcher under the guidance of Professor Rowley at Carroll College developing all-metal-oxide photovoltaic devices, I have grown as a scientist. Not only was I educated in the chemistry behind solar panels, but I learned how to question and examine problems as a chemist. I’m so thankful that I had the opportunity to participate in this research, and I look forward to working with Carroll and it’s chemistry faculty in the future." ~ Tim Radosevich, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Class of 2023
"I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work in Dr. Rowley's lab this summer. Not only did I learn about the chemistry behind solar panels, but I also got to experience what it means to work full time doing research. Further developing the skills of perseverance, creativity, and flexibility when it comes to finding solutions helped solidify my love of lab work. Seeing how an idea can turn into tangible results with important applications is incredibly rewarding!" ~ Elliot Wald, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Class of 2024
These transformative research experiences were made possible by a combination of external grants and endowed professorships. The department has capacity and desire to provide more research experiences for our students. In fact, increasing the number of students who benefit from these transformative summer research experiences is one of the chemistry department’s strategic goals.
The chemistry department, in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA), is working to create new endowed faculty chair positions to fund student research experiences. The endowed faculty professorships will allow us to increase the number and quality of student research experiences we provide.
You can help provide these impactful opportunities for Carroll College students. To learn more about how you can support our efforts to create endowed faculty professorships or help with other student scholarship opportunities, please contact the Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dr. Chris Aimone at caimone@carroll.edu, 406-447-5528.
Summer Research Potluck BBQ
The summer research potluck and BBQ is an ongoing annual tradition for the chemistry, biology, and biochemistry and molecular biology faculty. Started in 2018 and canceled only in 2020 due to the pandemic, the annual event is an opportunity for research students from across campus to share their summer experiences, research projects, and a meal together. This summer over 30 vaccinated students and faculty from across multiple departments met in mid-June.
Keeping Updated on News from the Chemistry Department
Did you miss our Fall 2020 Newsletter? Previous newsletters and press regarding the chemistry department can be found on our Chemistry News page. In addition, regular updates regarding our department can be found on our Instagram & Past Events page.
We are extremely grateful for the outreach and engagement we have seen from our alumni and supporters. Many of the transformative experiences we provide our students are made possible through your generosity. We also appreciate your feedback, insights, and ideas which are also important for the future success of our programs.
Please feel free to reach out to any of us via email and you can also follow us on Instagram @Carroll_College_Chemistry.
Sincerely,
The Carroll College Chemistry Faculty